Genesis Magma Racing (GMR) has successfully completed the first endurance test of its new GMR-001 Hypercar. Over three days, from September 16-18, the team ran the car at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal, pushing it to its limits to test every component’s reliability.
Stress Testing for Success
The team put in 32 hours of continuous running, a key step in preparing the car for its 2026 debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). The goal was to find and fix any weak points early on.
“The main target of an endurance test is to put miles on the car and see what problems you can generate along the way,” explained GMR Chief Engineer Justin Taylor. “We’re still early in the car’s development, so at this stage, you’re hoping to have problems show up so that you have a chance to solve them.”
Drivers André Lotterer, Pipo Derani, and new recruits Mathys Jaubert and Dani Juncadella shared the driving duties. “As a driver, you want to do good lap times so you can properly stress components with the intention of finding failures,” said Derani. “It’s a brand-new car and we need to see if the parts can last long enough. If we find any weak points, then work out what we can do to improve.”
Key Learnings from the Track
The test provided valuable data on several critical areas:
- Cooling System: With temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, the GMR-001’s innovative cooling package, twin-turbo V8 engine, and other powertrain components faced a serious test, performing well under the demanding conditions.
- Headlights: The specially designed headlights, which mirror the “Two-Line” design of Genesis road cars, were tested during nighttime runs. “We quickly realized that our lights are very good,” said Lotterer. The light spread and quality are vital for driver confidence during the long WEC races.
- Stint Management: Drivers completed double and triple stints, allowing engineers to gather data on tire wear and energy management. This data is crucial for optimizing race strategy and staying within WEC regulations.
New Drivers Impress
New WEC drivers Mathys Jaubert and Dani Juncadella got their first taste of the GMR-001, quickly adapting to the powerful hypercar. Both drivers, who have been racing in LMP2 with GMR’s Trajectory program, impressed the team with their feedback.
“Driving the GMR-001 Hypercar for the first time was something very special,” said Jaubert. “It’s very powerful… but it is easy to drive. It’s easy to find the rhythm in it. It was like I was dreaming.”
Juncadella added, “Even though I have no experience in the Hypercar class, I do have a lot of experience in endurance racing with different manufacturers… and can bring those different experiences to the development.”
GMR Sporting Director Gabriele Tarquini praised their performance, noting they “provided very good feedback to help confirm our early development.”
The Road Ahead
With the endurance test complete, the team will now shift its focus to performance. “Our next tests are going to be more adding performance,” said Taylor. The GMR team will continue to fine-tune the car, combining further endurance runs with full operational tests to prepare for its highly anticipated race debut.
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